The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-05-05
GROVER CLEVELAND became President

GROVER CLEVELAND became President
of the United States having fair record
for honesty of purpose and considerable
determination but so comparatively IN
acquainted with public matters that
people thought he would be lost IN the
larger field to which he was called. He
was hampered a great deal by the in
ordinate appetite of the party which
could see no good in victory beyond the
pillage. He did not stand well with the
democrats who were by no means strongly
attached to the spoils, but who could not
uncomplainingly see new man who had
encountered none of the Bullets of adver-
sity preferred in the hour of triumph to
the battered and high-minded veterans
of the party. But Cleveland has been
steadily winning respect, not by the arts
of the politician, but by the exercise of
manship wholly free from faint of
partisanship.
His action on the conflicting claims of
Guilford L. Miller and the Northern
Pacific Is the first instance on record of
President of the United States espous-
ing the cause of an individual against
| a corporation. Let the laborers read the
| Presidents letter to Secretary Lamar on
this matter and they will recognize in
| Cleveland a friend who is willing to
| welcome the hostility of the corporations
| to protect the rights of the individual
| 1t is not orotorical clap-trap. 1t is an
executive order full of dignity and
| firmness.
The facts of the case are as follows
| Land was granted to the Pacific Railroad
and in the belief that not all the lane
| granted could come into the possession
of the company because of paramount
| rights vested In other parties before thu
| grant was made, an additional tract was
set aside from which the railroad com
| pany could select lands to make gooC
the deficiency in the original grant. II
1872 the interior department Withdrew
all the lands from sale, presumption ant
homestead entry. This it is plain to b.
seen was done in the interests of the rail
road company. 1t could sell its lands
but the government lands were not opel
to settlers, on the pretext that the rail
road company had not yet made it
selections. For fifteen years this stat
of things has continued. Miller settleC
on this withdrawn land in 1873. and mad
many improvements on it. Lately tn
railroad company demanded his lanC
claiming it had selected this because o
a deficiency in the original tract. TIL
interior department and the legal depart
ment following precedent, were about t
concede the right Of the company. The
| Cleveland interferes and in a clear, mani
outspOken letter says the settlers mus
be protected. That there is an ahund
ance of land within the area reserved o.
which no settler has claim which may g
to the railroad company if its grant
not yet satisfied He then directs tn
secretary to settle the matter with ever
intendment and presumption in favor c
the settler" and that in selecting lands t
which the company is entitled because c
the grant, no land shall be taken upo
which any citizen has settled in goo
faith.
No one can read the letter without
feeling of admiration for the man VIII
brushes presidents aside SO fearlessly i
the interests of justice, particularly whe
it is securing an individual against or
preston by corporation. 1t is some
thing new in governmental matters an
should raise up friends among the con
mon people for Grover Cleveland.